Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson has backed in-form winger George Hendy for a call-up to Steve Borthwick’s England squad for next month’s Nations Championship.

England will face Australia, Japan and New Zealand next month before finals weekend at Twickenham, and Dowson says former England U20 and A international Hendy deserves a shot at selection.

Warwick-born Hendy, 24, scored two tries in the Gallagher PREM Final win over Exeter Chiefs last season and has been in sensational form, scoring four tries in his last three games. He was also impressive in the Champions Cup win over Cardiff at the weekend.

He crossed for a try, played a key role in another, and earned plaudits for a try-saving tackle on Wales winger Josh Adams, prompting a celebration from Dowson in the coaches’ box.

Speaking to RugbyPass ahead of this weekend’s East Midlands derby against Leicester, Dowson said: “I think he deserves to be (considered for England), but there’ll be two wings at Leicester, if not three, who would also be in that conversation, and they’ve got people like Tommy Freeman and Manny Feyi-Waboso and a few other lads as well.

“So, there’s lots of players, it’s very competitive, but we’re really hopeful that George is in those conversations, and I’m sure he is. To play for England, you can have to be very, very good. And I think that he is.

“I’ve been very impressed and I think, as he’s come through the ranks, and I talked about it with the coaching group, when he goes away on the summer, he obviously spends a lot of time reflecting on what he wants to achieve the following year.

“And some of the stuff that he’s been working on in his own game has been really evident in terms of his defensive organisation, his defensive positioning, his actual contact, collision defence,

“His high ball work is excellent. And I think you saw his athleticism at the weekend.”